Edward Taylor an Louis Spohr in Kassel

via France

D^r. Louis Spohr
Hesse Cassel
Germany


Gresham College
London
April 15. 1847

My dear & honoured Friend

I have been a few days absent from Town, and therefore a reply to your letter has been so long delayed. I regret this because I would willingly have instantly¹ removed from your mind any uncertainty as to your visit to London.
I have seen – this morning – some of the manager of the Exeter Hall Society², and they have not the remotest ieda of postponing the performance of your Oratorios ever should Parliament be prorogued & the Elections take place. In the first place it is quite uncertain whether this event³ will⁴ happen this Summer, but our Elections are now over in a day, & even if the London & Westminster Elections were to happen during the time of your stay, it would be easy to avoid the precise day on which they take place.⁵
In the present state of political parties, the Elections will occasion very little excitement of any kind, happen when they may.
The termination of the Season (ever should it terminate prematurely) would any little affect the audiences at Exeter Hall; which consist not of the Nobility & the fashionable community of London, but of the permanent & constant residents there of the middle classes.
There is one event which will render it nessessary that the performances should take place after the 8^th July, so in the first week of July the Installation of Prince Albert will take place at Cambridge⁶, when most of our principal Singers & Instrumental performers will be assisting at the ceremonial. This will make no difference in the arrangements at Exeter Hall except the possible change of the first day‘s performances for a date a little later: which I trust will be equally convenient to you. It will not affect the preparatory vocal Rehearsals there at all.
The Committee are very anxious to see the Score of your Milton‘s Psalm⁷, & I should, therefore, be much obliged if you will forward it directly, addressed to me at N^o 2. Duke Street – Adelphi – London.
It gives me great pleasure to hear that Margaret has not lost her German, but indeed I do not think it likely that any thing connected with her visit to Cassel will be effaced from her memory.
She is now in London, & has had the welcome employment of translating your Letter for me.
I beg my best regards to Madame Spohr and am

My dear & valued Friend
Yours most faithfully
Edw. Taylor